Portland and Nelson fishing spots

Portland is Victoria's tuna town: from late autumn boats run to inshore grounds and the shelf for southern bluefin tuna, and summer brings yellowtail kingfish to Lawrence Rocks, Minerva Reef and the North Shore. The Lee Breakwater gives shore anglers snapper, kingfish, salmon and calamari, and the Glenelg River at Nelson is one of the state's best mulloway, bream and estuary perch rivers.

Updated 9 Oct 2026

6 spots here: 3 fished from land and 3 reached only by boat. Seasons follow our West Coast species list for Victoria. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.

Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.

Spots at a glance

6 spots: Portland and Nelson
Spot	Type	Fished from	Water	Marine park
1. Lee Breakwater	Breakwall	Land-based	Ocean coast	–
2. Henty Beach & Portland foreshore	Beach	Land-based and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–
3. Minerva Reef & the North Shore	Rocks	Boat	Offshore	–
4. Lawrence Rocks	Island	Boat	Offshore	–
5. Julia Reef	Rocks	Boat	Offshore	–
6. Glenelg River at Nelson	River	Land-based, boat and kayak	Bay, estuary or river	–

1. Lee Breakwater

Type: Breakwall · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
Access: Land-based. Lee Breakwater Road, Portland harbour; parking by the ramps, then walk out on the wall.
What's good here: Peak in October: southern calamari. Also in season: snapper and Australian salmon. Out of season now: yellowtail kingfish. Also: silver trevally.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Avoid strong easterlies and south-easterlies, which push swell onto the wall.
Note: Surf rods with paternoster rigs and squid, salmon, mackerel or mullet baits for snapper; in summer kingfish sometimes chase bait right up to the wall.
Safety: Wear a lifejacket on rocks and breakwalls, watch the sea for a while before going down, and plan an escape route. Working port: obey port security signs and any closures.
Zone: Nearest no-take area: Discovery Bay Marine National Park, about 19 km west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -38.34424, 141.61403 · Open in Google Maps (position: LEE BREAKWATER, Vicmap Hydro - Water Structure Line)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

2. Henty Beach & Portland foreshore

Type: Beach · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based and kayak. Portland foreshore beside the harbour; town-centre parking.
What's good here: Peak in October: sand flathead and southern calamari. Also in season: King George whiting and Australian salmon. Also: silver trevally.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerly winds blow offshore here; easterlies make it choppy. Faces ENE.
Note: Sheltered from southerly squalls by Cape Sir William Grant: whiting, flathead, trevally and salmon off the beaches, and calamari around weed and reef in the harbour.
Safety: Boat traffic near the harbour.
Zone: Nearest no-take area: Discovery Bay Marine National Park, about 18 km west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -38.35050, 141.60860 · Open in Google Maps (position: Henty Beach, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

3. Minerva Reef & the North Shore

Type: Rocks · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. Short run north from the Portland harbour ramps.
What's good here: In season in October: snapper and Australian salmon. Out of season now: yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Westerly winds give some shelter along the North Shore.
Note: The closest kingfish ground to the harbour: slow-troll squid strips, float live baits or cast stickbaits and big soft plastics over the reef in warm, clear water. Back off if boats crowd the reef.
Safety: Shallow reef: hooked kingfish dive for it, and so can a careless hull.
Zone: Nearest no-take area: Discovery Bay Marine National Park, about 25 km west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -38.27650, 141.67020 · Open in Google Maps (position: Minerva Reef, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

4. Lawrence Rocks

Type: Island · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. About 8 km south-east of Portland harbour by boat.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon. Out of season now: yellowtail kingfish and southern bluefin tuna.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Light winds and low swell only.
Note: A summer kingfish hotspot; the water behind the rocks is a consistent tuna ground in season. Troll squid strips or skirted lures and watch for birds working bait.
Safety: Leave the harbour giving the rocks a wide berth and avoid the passage between rocks and shore. Gannet colony: do not land.
Zone: Nearest no-take area: Discovery Bay Marine National Park, about 25 km west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -38.40240, 141.66920 · Open in Google Maps (position: Lawrence Island, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

5. Julia Reef

Type: Rocks · offshore (boat)
Access: Boat. Boat from Portland, east across Portland Bay.
What's good here: In season in October: Australian salmon. Out of season now: southern bluefin tuna and yellowtail kingfish.
Best tide: Not confirmed for this spot yet.
Best wind: Light winds and low swell.
Note: A consistent spot during the summer inshore tuna run and a kingfish reef when the water is warm and clear; troll or cast around bait schools.
Safety: Open water: carry an EPIRB and VHF.
Zone: Nearest no-take area: Discovery Bay Marine National Park, about 35 km west. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -38.29870, 141.80010 · Open in Google Maps (position: Julia Reef, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

6. Glenelg River at Nelson

Type: River · bay, estuary or river
Access: Land-based, boat and kayak. Nelson township: ramps at Kellett Street and the Isle of Bags; some bank fishing, but a boat or kayak reaches the best water.
What's good here: Peak in October: mulloway and black bream. Also in season: estuary perch, Australian salmon and yellow-eye mullet.
Best tide: Nights around the full and new moon for mulloway; after rain, mulloway gather in the lower river.
Best wind: Sheltered in most winds.
Note: A top Victorian mulloway river (peak September-December) on live mullet, squid or plastics; bream from the mouth up to Pritchards, often bigger near Sapling Creek, and perch on the snags.
Safety: Part of the lower river flows through South Australia, where SA boating and fishing rules apply.
Zone: Nearest no-take area: Discovery Bay Marine National Park, about 43 km south-east. Guide only, not for navigation: check vfa.vic.gov.au map (PDF).
Map: -38.03870, 141.00460 · Open in Google Maps (position: Isle of Bags, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
Forecast: Forecast for this spot

Boat ramps

Victoria's boat ramp register isn't published under an open licence we could confirm, so we don't list its ramps yet.

What's biting here in October?

In peak season at Portland and Nelson in October: southern calamari, sand flathead, black bream, mulloway and 1 more. Of the 13 species our West Coast list has for this part of the coast, 5 peak in October 2026 and 6 more are in season.

Peak in October: southern calamari, sand flathead, black bream, mulloway and leatherjacket.

Also in season: Australian salmon, snapper, King George whiting, estuary perch, yellow-eye mullet and gummy shark.

Out of season in October: yellowtail kingfish (best Dec–Apr); southern bluefin tuna (best May–Jul).

Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: Victoria's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.

Can you fish here? Rules and safety

Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) needed for all fishing incl. bait, shellfish, prawns, spearfishing unless exempt. From 1 Jul 2026: 3-day $10.00, 28-day $24.70, 1-yr $40.80 online ($43.30 agent), 3-yr $111.20 ($117.40). Exempt: under 18, 70+, Seniors Card, some pension/DVA cards, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Victoria's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Rules at Portland and Nelson

Discovery Bay Marine National Park, west of Cape Bridgewater, is no-take.
Abalone disease (AVG): unprocessed abalone from South Australia can't be possessed anywhere in Victoria, and boats, trailers and gear used in South Australia's southern zone (border to the Murray mouth) must be cleaned before coming back into Victoria. Check the VFA abalone disease page for current controls.
Glenelg River: Victorian rules apply in Victoria; where the river crosses into South Australia, SA rules apply. Glenelg spiny crayfish are protected.
Portland's Trawler Wharf is reserved for the commercial fleet and is not a public fishing spot.

Marine parks and no-take zones

Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.

Safety at Portland and Nelson

Leave Portland harbour giving Lawrence Rocks a wide berth and avoid the passage inside them.
Southern Ocean swell and fast-changing weather: tuna grounds lie 20-50 km offshore, so go with a capable boat, EPIRB and VHF.
Lifejackets are compulsory on the rock platform near the Cape Bridgewater blowholes car park.
Seals and sharks are common around the reefs and islands.

Victoria: official links

Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: Vic coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.

Boating: Victoria boating safety, crossing coastal bars and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Wear on boats <=4.8m, and on boats up to 12m at heightened risk: crossing a bar, Port Phillip Heads, alone, at night, restricted visibility, or under a BOM gale/storm/severe weather warning.

Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Victoria Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) network and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (Victorian flotillas). Log on with TripWatch on the Coast Guard website, or with your local flotilla.

Marine parks and closed areas: Marine national parks and marine sanctuaries (VFA list with maps), Parks Victoria (park pages and boundary coordinates) and Australian Marine Parks (South-east network).

Rock fishing lifejacket zones: Lifejacket required at high-risk rock fishing zones incl. Cape Bridgewater, Lorne area, Point Nepean-West Head, Phillip Island sites, Bore Beach-Kilcunda, Point Roadknight. Fines apply. More.

Victoria's official rules: size and bag limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).

Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.

Nearby fishing areas

Warrnambool and Port Fairy (about 68 km east)
Robe and the Limestone Coast (SA) (about 170 km north-west)
Geelong, Corio Bay and the Bellarine (about 257 km east)
Mornington Peninsula (Port Phillip side) (about 287 km east)

Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in Victoria · all fishing spot guides.

Sources and checked dates

Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0, ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0 and Vicmap Hydro - Water Structure Line (State of Victoria (Department of Transport and Planning)), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
Research sources: vfa.vic.gov.au (Portland tuna, kingfish reefs, harbour ramps and exit advice (VFA)); vfa.vic.gov.au (Glenelg River species, seasons and access (VFA)); standard.net.au (Lee Breakwater land-based snapper rigs and baits); vfa.vic.gov.au (Surry River all-abilities jetty and black bream (VFA)); glenelg.vic.gov.au (Trawler Wharf reserved for commercial fishing); vfa.vic.gov.au (Discovery Bay Marine National Park map); vfa.vic.gov.au (Abalone disease controls); vfa.vic.gov.au (Rock fishing safety and the 11 zones where lifejackets are compulsory); vfa.vic.gov.au (No fishing of any kind in marine national parks and sanctuaries; list and maps); ga.gov.au (Spot coordinates: the site place index (Composite Gazetteer of Australia and ABS localities, CC BY 4.0)); discover.data.vic.gov.au (Jetty, pier and breakwater coordinates (Vicmap Hydro water structure lines, CC BY 4.0; midpoint of the named feature)); safetransport.vic.gov.au (Ramp coordinates, lanes, tide access and facilities from the Safe Transport Victoria boat ramp register (boating.vic.gov.au), CC BY 4.0); discover.data.vic.gov.au (Marine national park and sanctuary boundaries used for the zone checks (PARKRES, CC BY 4.0)).
Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.